Coaster Critique: Yuenglings Traditional, Premium and Black & Tan

I was recently given three bottles of Yuengling’s beers, thanks Jason for sharing with me. Yuengling’s is not available in Maine and like anything that’s hard to get I find it creates some extra hype. I personally am not a fan of the American Adjunct Lager but I’m always willing to try, it’s been a few years since I’ve have had a Yuengling’s traditional and I don’t remember if I liked it or not, and I’ve never had the Premium or the Black and Tan.

Traditional Lager poured a clear, golden-copper color with almost no visible carbonation. Pour produced a short white head that fell quickly into a thin ring around the glass.

The nose is a bit sweet, picking up some toasted grains and corn. I’m not picking up any distinct hops aroma but the lager yeast stands out. I honestly expected some skunky, light struck odors but none are present.

This beer is pretty sweet; corn stands out in the flavor with some caramel malt in the background. The hops are very light in the flavor. This bottle is very lightly carbonated with a thin body and a clean finish.

Overall not a bad beer but it wouldn’t be my first pick for the style. The beer was a bit sweeter than I prefer and lacking in hops to balance it out. This bottle also seemed a bit under-carbonated which may have impacted the flavor.

Smells light, crackery malt aroma with some faint notes of corn and just a hint of grassy hops.

Very light in flavor, some grainy notes and a bit sweet, the hops are very subtle in the flavor but there is a nice easy bitterness that balances out the sweetness of the malt. Light in body with a clean, crisp finish.

Overall a very drinkable beer, not as sweet as the Traditional Lager, the Premium is a well-balanced beer. This would be a refreshing summer drinker.

Name: Black and Tan

Brewed by: DL Yuengling & Son Inc.

Style: Black and Tan (Porter and Premium Blended)

ABV: 4.6%

Yuengling’s Black and Tan pours a dark reddish color, there was almost no head.

Not a strong smelling beer, dark roasted grains, yeast, not picking up any distinct hops aroma.

Slightly sweet malt body, just a hint of roast, no hops to speak of. There isn’t anything special about the flavor of this beer, it’s easy drinking but the aftertaste clings to your palate.

Overall not bad, probably the best of the three Yuengling beers I tried, it was a very drinkable beer but the aftertaste was borderline overwhelming. Like all Yuengling’s it is not available in Maine, if you have the opportunity to try a bottle it’s worth it but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it again.